← Our pedagogy
How we teach Pure Chemistry
Sec 3–4, including Combined Chemistry and IP Chemistry
Pure Chemistry is about what particles do and why. Once students see that, the subject stops being a list to memorise. IP students get the same method, taken to the depth their school’s IP syllabus and A-Level demand.
1 · Understand the concept, never just memorise it
Chemistry has a reputation for memory work, which is exactly why students get stuck. We explain what is happening to the particles, so reactions, bonding and calculations follow logically.
How we explain it, simply
- The mole“A chemist’s "dozen": a fixed number of particles, so atoms can be counted by weighing.”
- Ionic bonding“One atom gives electrons away and the other takes them; the opposite charges then stick together like magnets.”
- Rate of reaction“A more crowded corridor means more bumping into each other. That is higher concentration.”
2 · Know every type of question before the exam
From every past paper, we know the Chemistry question types. Each gets a step-by-step framework.
The question types we prepare for
- Mole calculations and stoichiometry
- Explaining bonding, structure and properties
- Qualitative analysis: identifying ions and gases
- Acids, bases and preparing salts
- Redox and electrolysis
- Energy changes and rates of reaction
- Periodic table trends and metals
- Organic chemistry
- Data-based and practical questions
3 · Find the reason behind every mistake
We trace every Chemistry error back to the particle idea that was missed.
Mistakes, and the real reason behind them
- Mole question wrong after a good startThe real reason: Skipped the mole ratio from the balanced equation.
- Said ionic compounds have "weak forces between molecules"The real reason: Mixed up ionic lattices with simple molecules.
- Qualitative analysis answer incompleteThe real reason: Named the ion but not the observation the marks are given for.